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May 2023

GERMAN FILMS IN CANNES 2023


Showing her incredible range and versatility Sandra Hüller starred in two of the most talked about films of the 2023 festival line-up: ANATOMY OF A FALL and THE ZONE OF INTEREST. Both of which were awarded coveted festival prizes with Hüller receiving special praise for her fearless performances. Congratulations!

German Films had a strong presence at the festival and supported the German film industry with various events. Several hundred guests from the international film industry and festival community used the Animation Germany, the Documentary as well as the regular German Films Happy Hour events to network. The Next Generation Short Tiger screening was also well attended.

After the festival is before the festival... meaning the summer film festivals are just around the corner. And there German Films will once again showcase the latest German films and co-productions as well Germany's creative talents.

ON OUR OWN BEHALF: SIMONE BAUMANN RE-ELECTED TO EFP-BOARD


Five of the current members remain on the Board, including Simone Baumann, Managing Director German Films, as new Vice President, Daniela Elstner, Executive Director UniFrance, Eda Koppel,Head of Marketing Estonian Film Institute,Stine Oppegaard, Manager International Relations Feature Films,Norwegian Film Institute, Markéta Šantrochová, Head of Czech Film Center, who has been re-elected as EFP President. Newly elected to the Board are Christian De Schutter, Managing Director of Flanders Image and Rastislav Steranka, Director of the National Cinematographic Centre of the Slovak Film Institute.

25th FESTIVAL OF GERMAN FILMS IN MADRID


The festival will be opened by Frauke Finsterwalder with her film SISI AND I. Also present this year is the Face to Face with German Films campaign with ambassador Lena Urzendowsky, who will present the film FRANKY FIVE STAR to the audience and press. (Spanish schools are also scheduled for special screenings and Q&As with the actress.)

The Next Generation Short Tiger program will also be screened on Saturday afternoon with a present guest, Luis Schubert (BLIND SPOTS).
 
The festival is held in cooperation with the Goethe-Institut and is supported by Amigos del Goethe-Institut Espana, the German Embassy Madrid and FILMIN. This year the Goethe-Institut presents three films in focus "MÚSICA - Lamento - Ritmo - Amor - CINE".

Festival Films

SISI & I by Frauke Finsterwalder (Opening Film)

FRANKY FIVE STAR by Birgit Möller

IN THE BLIND SPOT by Ayşe Polat

SKIN DEEP by Alex Schaad

UNCANNY ME by Katharina Pethke

VAMOS A LA PLAYA by Bettina Blümner

Goethe Focus

ORPHEA IN LOVE by Axel Ranisch

INTO THE BEAT by Stefan Westerwelle

HAPPY LAMENTO by Alexander Kluge

KINO! FILM SALON: YELLA BY CHRISTIAN PETZOLD


The feature film was part of the Official Competition at the Berlin International Film Festival in 2007, and lead actress Nina Hoss received the Silver Bear for Best Actress followed by the German Film Prize for Best Actress in 2008.

Our curator Jim Kolmar selected this movie: “Christian Petzold’s icy, enigmatic psychodrama is a carefully modulated exploration of the uncanny, featuring a typically precise performance from Nina Hoss. The film unfolds like a thriller, following Hoss as Yella, pursuing a new job in a new town as a means to escape a traumatic past.

Crafted with Petzold’s typical rigor and formal assurance, the film often feels suspended between the cerebral and sensual, a dreamlike allegorical exercise that’s hard to pin down. Each scene bristles with subtext, a critique of hypermodernity and a reminder that one can never truly escape the past. In short, it’s a characteristically intelligent, provocative work from one of modern European cinema’s true masters.“

Christian Petzold’ latest film AFIRE that was part of this year’s Official Competition at the Berlin International Film Festival, received the Silver Bear Grand Jury Prize and will be theatrically released in the US starting July 14th by Janus Films/Sideshow Pictures.

RSVP: https://bit.ly/kinofilmsalonyella

Date and time: Sunday, 11 June at 11am - 12pm PT, 2pm - 3pm ET, 8pm - 9pm CET. 
Hosted by Jim Kolmar

KINO! FILM SALON is a production of Telescope Film, in collaboration with the German Film Office.

NEW EPISODES – SHORT TAKE: A GERMAN FILMS PODCAST


Episode 43 - 25 May: 
Writer SönkeAndresen is the best example that starting later in life can be an advantage. In our newest #ShortTake episode we talk about his former job as a teacher of German as a second language, his love for the northern delicacy Pinkel and Grünkohl (Kale and sausage, anyone?!) and why his friendships are separate from the film industry.

Episode 44 - 15 June:
Guilty pleasures? Movies and Food – we can definitely get on board with that. Director, writer and actor @_alisonkuhn_ was a great podcast guest, despite a cold. Enjoy our episode with the talented multi-hyphenate.

You can find all of the episodes on our website and wherever podcasts are available.

SHORT TAKE on Instagram!

DEEP DIVE GENRE - A GERMAN FILMS PODCAST: SEASON 2 - ROMCOM


Episode 6 - June 20:

For our last episode of season 2 we talked to fellow RomCom enthusiast Karoline Herfurth. Our conversation with the talented director, actor and writer runs the gamut from the often overlooked societal importance of RomComs to its tropes such as the “big gesture”.

Spoiler alert: We’re of slightly different opinions on this... And of course we dive deep into Karoline’s creative process behind her hilarious and warmhearted romantic comedies SMS FÜR DICH and EINFACH MAL WAS SCHÖNES. It was a pleasure!

Join us for the final episode of season 2 of DEEP DIVE GENRE here or wherever you find your podcasts.

NEWSBITES

96th OSCAR COMPETITION IN THE CATEGORY International Feature Film

- SELECTION OF THE GERMAN ENTRY -

German Films calls upon rights holders of films to participate in the selection of the German entry to the 96th OSCAR® Competition in the category International Feature Film (feature film, animated film, documentary).

Please find all the necessary information here. For any questions please contact Nicole Kaufmann.

FESTIVALS


German productions and co-productions at Anifilm, Frameline and Annecy

INTERNATIONAL RELEASES IN JUNE


International releases of German films in June 2023 supported by the German Films Distribution Support program:

THE CONFERENCE in Taiwan (Distributor: Swallow Wings, World Sales: Global Screen, Theatrical Release: 01 June 2023)

WE MIGHT AS WELL BE DEAD in Mexico (Distributor: Bestiario Films, World Sales: Fortissimo Films, Theatrical Release: 01 June 2023)

ADIÓS BUENOS AIRES in Switzerland and Liechtenstein (Distributor: Xenix Filmdistribution, World Sales: Beta Cinema, Theatrical Release: 15 June 2023)

RHEINGOLD in Romania (Distributor: Transilvania Film, World Sales: The Match Factory, Theatrical Release: 16 June 2023)

Please note: Correct at time of going to press. Changes may occur at any time.



Impressum


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